Assembly method and installation, a device assembled thereby, and a unit including the device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to assembling together at least two envelope elements with at least one deformable element between the two envelope elements so that the elements are secured together rigidly in irreversible manner, the assembled-together elements being designed to be subjected to compression stresses in a direction that at least intersects an assembly surface; bonding treatment is provided so that at least one compression pad has its first assembly surface in contact with the assembly surface of the first envelope element and so that a second assembly surface of a pad is in contact with an assembly surface of the second envelope element.

This application is a Division of Ser. No. 08/928,685 filed Sep. 12,1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,631.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the general technical field of assemblingelements together.

In particular, it relates to an assembly method, an assemblyinstallation, a device assembled thereby, and a unit including thedevice.

The term “assembly” is used herein to mean any operation whereby atleast two hard and brittle elements are secured to each other, and alsoto at least one deformable element disposed between the two hard andbrittle elements, rigidly and in irreversible manner.

The term “irreversible” means that separating the elements will spoilthem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such assembly is common in numerous technical fields, regardless of thestructure and/or the composition of the materials and/or the finalpurpose of the elements.

Such assemblies are desirable in numerous technical fields such asbuilding and public works, furniture, and mechanical engineering, inparticular.

For greater simplicity, the invention is described in the field ofglazing. The scope of the invention is not limited in any way toglazing, which is merely the context in which the invention originated.

Likewise, the term “envelope element” for designating the elements thatare hard and brittle is employed herein for the purpose of simplicity.It implies no limitation as to the number and/or disposition of suchelements.

A technical problem solved by the invention is described with referenceto an example concerning laminated glazing.

The following documents are mentioned in this field.

Document DE-A-38 37 701 describes a window provided with holes intowhich adhesive is inserted for bonding purposes.

Document GB-A-2 024 297 describes a window with a channel section railonto which fixing bolts are welded.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,551 describes glass plates for covering awall, and including section member rails stuck in the region of theedges.

Document EP-A-344 486 describes a thick glass plate for coveringpurposes, with sheet metal stuck thereto.

In laminated glazing, the envelope elements are generally made of glass,synthetic material, or the like. The deformable element(s) is/aregenerally made of thermoplastic synthetic material in the form oflaminations.

The elements are said to be “deformable” since they are suitable forbeing deformed plastically and irreversibly, commonly known as “creep”.

A rise in temperature, e.g. under the effect of the sun, increasescreep.

In particular, under certain conditions of temperature and/or stress,these elements are deformed because of their low resilience. Thus, theydo not return to their original shape once the conditions have gone.

For example, the application of stress on laminated glazing, e.g. in theform of compression for holding the glazing in position, often givesrise to creep.

This causes mechanical damage, and spoils the waterproofing of theglazing and/or the unit in which it is integrated.

The mechanical damage appears as a change in the shape of the glazing(delamination, thickness, etc.).

When that happens, the glazing is no longer properly held or driven. Inparticular, the connection between the glazing and the holding and/ordrive means is degraded (backlash, vibration, jamming, etc.), and mayeven be broken.

At present, industrial solutions are unsatisfactory, in particularbecause of cost.

To secure the glazing to its holding and/or drive means, it is commonpractice to provide it with discontinuities that open out to twoopposite faces in the main direction of the stresses. Thesediscontinuities are generally ports, holes, or openings.

This weakness the glazing and increases its cost. Also, the meanssecured to the glazing are then heavy, whereas, on the contrary,industry is looking for ways of reducing weight.

The same drawback of weight is to be found with means secured byclamping the glazing by means of a yoke.

A channel section insert, e.g. made of rubber or the like, generallyengages the edge of the glazing and is rigidly connected to the yoke.The size, the reliability, and the simplicity of the unit including theglazing all suffer therefrom.

These drawbacks present further difficulties when faced with increasingrequirements of the industry concerning soundproofing, reduction inweight and size, and concerning safety and reliability (ability of theassembly to withstand shock and conditions of heat or humidity, etc.).

It is also appropriate to restrict or even eliminate manufacturingrejects due to delamination, defects, or breakage, e.g. due to finalassembly in an autoclave (often at 1.2 MPa and at 145° C. for more than1 hour).

Delamination can also occur during assembly or during the aging cycle,and can escape attention during assembly, which is one of the causes ofsuch elamination.

The above problems are described in the context of aminated glazing, butthey also occur in numerous other mechanical fields.

There is a common need to apply compression stresses from the outside ona device having an envelope which is hard and brittle and a core whichis flexible. A term sometimes used is “low resilience”.

This applies to a panel or part provided with hard outer layers(cellulose material, synthetic material, metal, or porcelain or plaster)against which stressed need to be applied, and an internal part that isdeformable, such as insulating foam, a sealing film, a biologicalbarrier, or the like.

Such panels or parts are often to be found in furniture, public works,building, mechanical engineering, etc.

OBJECT AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There therefore exists considerable demand to solve the problems anddrawbacks mentioned.

To this end, the invention provides a method of assembling at least twoenvelope elements and at least one deformable element between the twoenvelope elements to secure these elements together rigidly inirreversible manner, the assembled-together elements being designed tobe subjected to compression stresses in a direction that intersects, oris even substantially perpendicular to, at least one assembly surface.

This method comprises the following combination of steps:

placing at least a first envelope element in an assembly position withat least a first assembly surface accessible;

placing at least a deformable element with a first assembly surfacefacing the first assembly surface and with an intermediate secondassembly surface that is accessible, said deformable element beingprovided with at least one compression pad and/or with at least one voidformed therein;

optionally placing at least one separate compression pad in said void,facing the assembly surface of the first envelope element;

placing at least a second envelope element with at least one assemblysurface facing at least an assembly surface of a deformable elementand/or at least one compression pad; and

performing bonding treatment such that at least one compression pad hasits first assembly surface in contact with the assembly surface of thefirst envelope element, and that a second assembly surface of acompression pad is in contact with the assembly surface of the secondenvelope element.

This provides a continuous bridge with one or more adjacent pads betweenthe envelope elements, with the bridge being strong in compression andcapable of absorbing stress without harming the assembly.

In a particular implementation, the bonding treatment step includes amechanical transformation operation such as deformation, e.g. bypressing at least one pad and/or a physical transformation such asdepressurizing or putting under a vacuum.

In an implementation, the bonding treatment step includes a chemicaltransformation operation such as polymerization, solidification, and/ordrying.

In an implementation, the method provides for the bonding treatment stepto include a heating operation e.g. in a bag oven and/or a stove.

According to a characteristic, the method includes a plurality of stepsconsisting in:

placing at least one deformable element with a first assembly surfacefacing a first or a second assembly surface; and

optionally placing in a void formed therein at least one separatecompression pad.

The invention also provides an installation for assembling together atleast two envelope elements with at least one deformable element betweenthe two envelope elements to secure the elements together rigidly inirreversible manner using the above-specified method.

An embodiment provides means selected from: a clean room and/or aconveyor system and/or a heater system, such as a bag oven, and/or awheel pressing system.

The installation is provided with programmable means such as a detectoror a controller, for monitoring the extent to which steps or operationshave been accomplished and/or suitable for performing such steps oroperations automatically, at least in part.

The invention also provides a device that is designed to be subjected tocompression stress, and including at least two envelope elements and atleast one deformable element between the two envelope elements, in whichthe elements are secured together rigidly in irreversible manner.

By way of example, the elements may be assembled together using theabove-mentioned method and/or by means of an installation as describedabove.

In the device, at least one compression pad disposed between theenvelope elements is made of a material whose hardness is substantiallyless than that of the envelope elements with which it is in contact andgreater than that of the deformable element, at least at the bondingtreatment temperature. The Vickers or Brinell number of the pad is about600 to 800, for example.

In an embodiment, at least one compression pad comprises a materialselected from: synthetic material such as aramid and/or polyvinylbutyral, and/or glass, and/or a metal such as lead and/or tin, saidmaterial being optionally a fiber material and, for example, is bondedto the deformable element by stitching.

According to a characteristic, at least one compression pad and/or onedeformable element comprises a portion that is opaque and/or translucentand/or tinted.

An example of the device provides for at least a compression pad and/ora deformable element to be of a size in the intended compression stressdirection that is substantially equal to the distance between theassembly surfaces facing it, prior to the bonding treatment step, saidsize being equal to the distance in the final device.

According to a characteristic, at least a compression pad and/or adeformable element and/or an envelope element is substantially in theform of a lamination, e.g. plane, bulging, or complex.

It is desirable to give the pad a shape that avoids “wounding” theenvelope element during assembly.

In an embodiment, at least a compression pad and/or an envelope element,or the device does not have any discontinuity opening out to the twoopposite assembly surfaces in the direction of the expected stresses,e.g. a port, hole, or opening.

A characteristic provides for at least one envelope element to comprisea transparent material such as glass or a synthetic material such aspolyethylene or the like, the device constituting, for example,laminated glazing.

Another characteristic provides for at least one compression pad to belocated in a compression zone and/or to define a pattern, in theassembly plane and/or in cross-section, the pattern being constituted bya polyhedron, lines, or circles.

By way of example, an embodiment of the device comprises, between twoelements, at least one fluid and/or film adhesive that is optionallythermosetting.

The invention also provides a unit including a device as mentionedabove.

The unit comprises holding and/or drive means, e.g. that operate byclamping, which co-operate with the device in register with at least onecompression pad, said means contributing to securing the device to theunit, and optionally to driving the device between two positions.

In an embodiment, the unit includes a passage, optionally provided withsealing means, with all of the compression pads of the device beinglocated on one side only of the passage regardless of the position ofthe device, the unit constituting, for example, a vehicle bodyworkcomponent such as a door, and the device constituting laminated glazing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in the following detailed description ofembodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-section view in elevation through avehicle bodywork component forming a unit of the invention, providedwith a laminated window forming a device of the invention, and withholding and drive means including an insert;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a laminated window forming adevice of the invention and including a single envelope element, adeformable element bonded to the single element, and compression padsintegrated in the deformable element while it is being assembled withthe envelope element; such assembled elements are sometimes referred toas “bi-layer” elements;

FIG. 3 is a face view in elevation of a window having a compression padin the form of a bottom strip extending longitudinally from edge to edgeover a limited height, and optionally provided with adhesive;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, in section on line IV—IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section on plane V of FIG. 2, with acompression pad shaped to assist in penetration and locking;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a device in which the pads extendbetween two laminations forming the deformable element, said elementbeing delivered with the pads integrated therein and comprising twolaminations;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a device in which the padsare discontinuous in shape, being circles or points, for example, andintegrated in the deformable element by sewing or analogous means;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, with pads in a pattern made up oflines;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8, showing a detail of FIG. 9 on lineIX—IX and also showing a portion of the assembly installation;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9, with rectangular pads; and

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 4, on line XII—XII of FIG. 11.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the examples of the description, a unit 1 is shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 6,and 12.

In this case, the unit 1 is a vehicle bodywork component, and inparticular a door.

The door-forming unit 1 includes a device 2 forming a laminated window.

In the figures, there can be seen a first envelope element 3, a secondenvelope element 4, and a deformable element 5.

The elements 3, 4, and 5 form parts of the device 2, and thus of theassembly 1.

Compression pads are shown at 6 in the figures. These pads also formparts of the device 2 and thus of the assembly 1.

The door of the assembly 1 includes a passage 7 across which the device2 extends.

Reference is made to a reference midplane in which the device 2generally extends. The midplane coincides with the plane of thelaminations in FIGS. 3, 7, 9, and 11.

In FIGS. 1, 4, 6, and 12, the midplane extends generally in a directionperpendicular to the plane of the laminations and from top to bottomthereof.

Reference is also made to a longitudinal plane. The longitudinal planeis a reference plane extending perpendicularly to the midplane andparallel to a “longitudinally” direction which is perpendicular to theplane of the laminations in FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.

In FIGS. 3, 9, and 11, the longitudinal plane coincides with the planeof the laminations and extends perpendicularly to straight lines VI, IX,and XII, respectively.

Reference is also made to a reference “transverse” plane. This is thesection plane of FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.

The transverse plane extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal planeand to the reference mid-plane. These three planes, i.e. thelongitudinal plane, the midplane, and the transverse plane, are mutuallyperpendicular.

Returning to the door-forming unit 1, it is observed that the passage 7extends substantially in the longitudinal plane.

The passage 7 includes sealing means 8, in this case rubber lip gaskets,generally extending in the longitudinal plane.

Each of the two gaskets of the sealing means 8 is in contact firstlywith a support-forming bodywork component and secondly with a respectiveenvelope element 3 or 4.

In the figures, numerical reference 9 designates holding means. Theholding means 9 comprise a channel section block or insert 10 offlexible material such as rubber. The flanges of the channel section lieagainst the sides of the device.

The block 10 is itself disposed on a support 11.

The holding means 9 thus act as means for driving the support 2 relativeto the remainder of the assembly 1 on which it is mounted, or relativeto the holding means 8.

Drive is obtained in direction D of FIG. 1, parallel to the transverseand midplanes.

The device 2 is clamped by the means 9 which applies compression forcesP.

Drive means 12, which may be mechanical or manual, for example, serve todrive displacement in direction D.

When the device is a window, displacement in direction D is designed totake place between two positions, a fully raised position and a fullylowered position.

Relative to the passage 7 and to the sealing means 8, all of thecompression pads 6 of the device 2 extend on one side only. In otherwords, the pads 6 are situated on a single side of the sealing means 8relative to a plane parallel to the longitudinal plane and extendinglevel with the passage 7.

It may be observed that this disposition applies regardless of theposition of the device 2, thus making the compression pads 6 invisiblein the event of the passage 7 opening to the outside.

Before describing the device 2, general consideration is given to themanufacture of laminated glazing.

As mentioned above, laminated glazing mainly comprises at least twoenvelope elements 3 and 4 together with at least one deformable element5 between the envelope elements.

In practice, envelope element 3 is designed to face towards the insidewhen the device 2 is in use, while envelope element 4 is designed toface towards the outside.

To make the device 2, the envelope elements 3 and 4 are made from “raw”panes of glass.

Various pairs of glass thicknesses are used, e.g. 2 mm and 2 mm; 3 mmand 2 mm; or 6 mm and 3 mm respectively for the outside envelope element4 and for the inside envelope element 3.

The raw panes are subjected to cutting and shaping operations referredto as initial operations for greater simplicity.

These operations are performed by placing the raw panes for the outsideand inside envelopes 4 and 3 one on the other so as to obtain panes thatare cut and shaped substantially identically.

A silkscreen printing operation is then performed in which a lead-freeenamel is applied to one of the raw pane faces that is to face theother.

The printing may comprise the trademark of the manufacturer, anidentification bar code, an antenna, or the like.

Generally, an operation is then performed of powdering using calciumcarbonate having a grain size of a few microns. The powdering isgenerally performed on the raw pane face opposite and facing the face onwhich the printing operation has been performed.

In certain embodiments, calcium carbonate is replaced by a diatom earth.

There then follows a pairing operation which consists in centering thetwo raw panes in alternation.

Thereafter there generally follows a heating operation, e.g. in an oven.

In installations, heating is performed continuously at temperatureslying in the range about 650° C. to about 750° C., depending on theshape, the thickness, and the characteristics required of the glazing.

Cooling then takes place. This operation requires mastery of edgetensions and of proper results concerning glass photoelastisymmetry.

There follow operations of washing, drying, and final cooling, so thatthe temperature of the raw panes is perceptibly less than or equal tothe temperature of the deformable elements 5.

There then follows the assembly method which is described below.

In general, it should be observed that an installation I (FIG. 10) forassembling at least two envelope elements 3 and 4 with at least onedeformable element 5 between the two envelope elements 3 and 4 seeks tosecure these elements 3, 4, and 5 together rigidly in irreversiblemanner.

In most cases, such an installation is provided with programmable meanssuch as detectors or controllers.

Also, such installations I are usually fitted with means for monitoringthe extent to which steps of the operation have been accomplished.

Means are also provided in most installations I that are suitable forperforming steps or operations automatically, at least in part.

Depending on the installation I, such an installation includes meansselected from: a clean room and/or a heating system, e.g. a bag oven,and/or a wheel presser system.

The assembly method serves to secure the elements 3, 4, and 5 togetherrigidly in irreversible manner.

This method is for use with assembled elements 3, 4, and 5 that aredesigned to be subjected to compression stresses P. In this case, thedirection of the compression stresses P is substantially perpendicularto the reference midplane.

In any event, the compression stresses P intersect said plane.

It will also be understood that because of the structure of the device2, the assembly surfaces between the envelope elements 3 and 4 and thedeformable element 5 are parallel, at least in certain locations, to thereference midplane. As a result, the respective orientations of thecompression stresses P relative to said plane also apply to the assemblysurfaces.

The method provides the following steps:

at least a first envelope element 3 is placed in an assembly positionwith at least a first assembly surface being accessible;

at least one deformable element 5 is placed with at least one assemblysurface facing the first assembly surface, and with an intermediate,second assembly surface that is accessible, said deformable element 5being provided with at least one compression pad and/or one void formedtherein;

optionally at least one compression pad 6 is placed in the void facingthe assembly surface of the first envelope element 3;

at least one second envelope element 4 is placed with at least oneassembly surface facing at least one assembly surface of a deformableelement (in this case element 3) and/or at least one compression pad 6;and

bonding treatment is performed so that at least one compression pad 6has its first assembly surface in contact with the assembly surface ofthe first envelope element 3, and a second assembly surface of acompression pad 6 is in contact with the assembly surface of the secondenvelope element 4.

It is common practice for assembly to be performed in a clean room, on aconveyor system for carrying the elements 3 and 4 coming from theabove-mentioned cleaning operation.

The outside element 3 is placed on the deformable element 5, and thensaid deformable element 5 is covered by the inside element 4.

By means of the conveyor system, the three elements placed one onanother in the manner described are brought to the portion of theinstallation I that performs the bonding treatment.

Depending on circumstances, it may be a bag oven or a wheel system.

The deformable elements 5 are often cut to the shape of a rectangle orof a trapezium, e.g. 24 hours before assembly.

Provision is also made to press the stack or “sandwich” formed by thetwo envelope elements 3 and 4 with the deformable element 5 locatedbetween them at two points, with this taking place during transfer tothe bonding treatment.

When bonding treatment is performed in a bag oven, two objectives areconcerned. The first is to degas and the second is to weld the edgestogether. For this purpose, it is common practice to use a vacuumcorresponding to 750 mm of mercury column. Such an oven can be referredto as a vacuum bag oven.

For sealing purposes, the temperature in the bag oven generally lies inthe range 90° C. to 100° C.

A base such as a block or an insert is commonly installed. For thispurpose, polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is generally used.

In some implementations, polyurethane (PU) has also shown certainqualities.

Similarly, and more generally, provision is made to use appropriateplastics materials.

The bases or “inserts” are, in some cases, pre-coated in adhesive, e.g.by induction heating/sticking.

In some embodiments, provision is also made for spacers to be put intoplace for a subsequent operation of passing through an autoclave. Such apassage through an autoclave is intended to make all of the surfacesuniform and to make the deformable element 5 transparent and opticallyfree from deformation.

For this purpose, it is necessary for the PVB in this case to besoftened and compressed uniformly.

The two envelope elements 3 and 4 are generally used at a pressure ofabout 1.2 MPa. This is done for a period of 1 hour at a temperature ofabout 145° C.

Thereafter, optical inspection is performed, e.g. by meare of a sodiumlamp at a grazing incidence, and pieces of the deformable element 5projecting beyond the envelope elements 3 and 4 are trimmed off.

Appearance is then generally inspected.

As described above, the assembly method provides for a bonding treatmentstep which, depending on circumstances, is accompanied by a chemicaltransformation operation such as polymerization, solidification, and/ordrying.

In certain implementations, the bonding treatment step also includes aheating operation, e.g. in a bag oven, an autoclave, or a stove.

The method can also be used to make up assemblies that comprise insuccession a plurality of deformable elements 5 and envelope elements 3or 4. similarly, it is possible in an assembly to juxtapose, contactsurface against contact surface, either a plurality of envelopeelements, or else a plurality of deformable elements 5.

An embodiment of this type provides for a plurality of steps consistingin:

placing at least one deformable element 5 with a first assembly surfacefacing a first or a second assembly surface; and

optionally placing at least one separate compression pad 6 in a voidformed therein. Conversely, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, it is alsopossible to provide for a “bi-layer” type of assembly.

Such an assembly comprises a single envelope element 3 which isassembled to one or more deformable elements 5.

At least one compression pad 6 is provided, placed between the envelopeelements 3 and 4, or between an envelope element and other elements toapply compression, with the pad being made of a material whose hardnessis considerably less than that of the envelope elements 3 and 4 withwhich it comes into contact.

This hardness is also greater than that of the deformable element 5, atleast at the bonding treatment temperature.

For example, the Vickers or Brinell hardness of the pad 6 can be then beof the order of 600 to 800.

The compression pad 6 is generally made of a material selected from:thermoplastic synthetic material such as aramid and/or polyvinylbutyral, and/or glass, and/or metal such as lead and/or tin.

Depending on the application, the same selection applies to thedeformable element(s) 5.

In some embodiments, the compression pads are made of fiber material.

By way of example, the pad material can be bonded to the deformableelement 5 by stitching such a fiber.

In the example of FIG. 3, the compression pad 6 is entirely opaque whilethe deformable element 5 is translucent and tinted.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 10, it can be seen that at least onecompression pad 6, and similarly the deformable element 5, is of a sizein the final stress direction that is substantially equal to thedistance between the assembly surfaces that it faces.

In some cases, this size is slightly greater before the bondingtreatment step. As in the figures, this size is substantially equal tothe distance in the final device 2.

To make the laminated glass device 2, the deformable element 5 and/orthe pad 6 is in the form of a lamination.

By way of example, a lamination can be provided having a thickness ofabout 0.76 mm. Two component laminations are then provided, each havinga thickness of 0.38 mm, with the pads 6 being initially placed betweenthem, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8.

The pads 6 are either added during assembly or else they form anintegral portion of an intermediate product essentially constituted bythe deformable element 5 together with the pads 6.

It can thus be seen how the invention makes it possible to provide forthe device 2 to have no discontinuities opening out in the two oppositeassembly surfaces in the direction of the compression stresses.

The cost of manufacturing a device 2 without any hole or opening isconsiderably reduced. It is also possible to solve technical problemsassociated with compressing a device 2 while retaining or improving itsmechanical qualities.

For the envelope element(e) 3, 4, when the device constitutes a window,the material used is transparent, such as a glass or a syntheticmaterial of the polyethylene type or the like.

With reference to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the glazing forming thedevice 2 is provided with a single pad 6 in the form of a stripextending from one edge to the other and also over a fraction of theheight.

In FIGS. 2, 5, 7, 8, and 10, the pads 6 are constituted by a pluralityof beads forming a pattern in the locations that are to co-operate withthe holding means 9.

In FIG. 9, the compression pads 6 are in the form of a plurality oflines forming a pattern.

In the reference midplane, or in a transverse or longitudinal planeperpendicular thereto, the patterns may be polyhedrons, lines, orcircles.

It should be observed at this point that an adhesive fluid and/or film,which may optionally be thermosetting, can be provided between any twoelements 3, 4, 5, or 6.

As shown in FIG. 11, where the pads 6 are rectangular in shape, it willbe understood that the shape of the pads or “filling” must be compatiblewith the lamination constituting the deformable element 5 creeping incontrolled manner around said pads during assembly.

The shape of the pads 6 is determined specifically for this purpose, andalso depends on the shape of the holding means 9 which operate as aclamp when cooperating with the device 2.

By obtaining a compression pad 6 that is discontinuous from one edge tothe opposite edge of the lamination of the deformable element 5, it ispossible to avoid the deformable element being split up into severalparts during assembly.

The same applies during use of the device 2.

It is also desirable during assembly to avoid displacement of onecompression pad 6 relative to another pad 6.

This constitutes an advantage of embodiments in which each pad 6 issurrounded, at least in part, by the deformable element 5 in thefinished device 2.

It should also be observed that the shape of the pad 6 can be selectedto facilitate penetration thereof into the deformable element duringassembly.

This applies to the pad 6 in the shape of a truncated pyramid shown onthe left of FIG. 5.

The same also applies to the “bead” shape shown on the right, and thatalso has the advantage of “locking” the pad 6 within the deformableelement 5.

It will thus be understood that the invention makes it possible tomanufacture devices that do not have discontinuities such as holes oropenings or other shapes, which discontinuities are usually intended,when they open out in both assembly surfaces, for receiving a mechanismthat withstands compression and enables the device to be driven.

The invention also makes it easier to achieve acoustic and/or thermalinsulation.

The invention is applicable in fields other than that of the embodimentsdescribed, for example in building, public works, furniture, and inmechanical engineering, in particular.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device that is designed to be subjected tocompression stresses, and including at least two envelope elements andat least one deformable element between the two envelope elements, theelements being secured together rigidly gin irreversible manner bybonding, wherein at least one compression pad disposed between envelopeelements is made of a material whose hardness is substantially less thanthat of the envelope elements with which it is in contact and greaterthan that of the deformable element, at least at the bonding treatmenttemperature, the Vickers or Brinell number of the pad being between 600and
 800. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least onecompression pad comprises materials selected from the following list:aramid, polyvinyl butyral, glass, lead and tin, said material being afibrous material which is bonded to the deformable element by stitching.3. A device according to claim 1, wherein a least one of the compressionpad and one deformable element comprises a portion that has acharacteristic frog the group including opaque, translucent and tinted.4. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of thecompression pad and the deformable element is of a size in the intendedcompression stress direction that is substantially equal to the distancebetween the assembly surfaces facing it, prior to the bonding treatmentstep, said size being equal to the distance in the final device.
 5. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the compressionpad, the deformable element, and an envelope element is substantially inthe form of a lamination which can include one of a plane, bulging, anda complex.
 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of thecompression pad, at least one envelope element, and the device has nodiscontinuity opening out to two opposites assembly surfaces in adirection of expected stresses, including a tort, a hole and an opening.7. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one envelope elementcomprises a transparent material which includes a material selected fromglass and a synthetic material including polyethylene, the device itselfcomprising laminated glazing.
 8. A device according to claim 1, whereinat least the compression pad is located in a compression zone anddefines a pattern, in the assembly plane and in cross-section, thepattern being constituted by a member of the group including apolyhedron, lines, and circles.
 9. A device according to claim 1,comprising one of a fluid and a film adhesive, both of which are athermosetting adhesive.
 10. A unit including a device according to claim1, and further comprising clamping holding means, for securing thedevice, and drive means for driving the device between two positions,both said means facing at least one compression pad.
 11. A unitaccording to claim 10, including a passage optionally provided withsealing means with all of the compression pads of the device extendingalong one side of the passage only, regardless of the position of thedevice, the unit constituting, a vehicle bodywork component, and thedevice constituting laminated glazing.
 12. A device that is designed tobe subjected to compression stresses, and including at least twoenvelope elements and at least one deformable element between the twoenvelope elements, the elements being secured together rigidly inirreversible manner by bonding, wherein at least one compression paddisposed between the envelope elements is made of a material whosehardness is substantially less than that of the envelope elements withwhich it is in contact and greater than that of the deformable element,at least at the bonding treatment temperature, the Vickers or Brinellnumber of the pad being between 600 to
 800. 13. A device according toclaim 12, wherein the at least one compression pad is of a materialselected from the group including synthetic material including aramidand polyvinyl butyral, glass, and a metal including lead and tin, saidmaterial being a fibrous material which is bonded to the deformableelement by stitching.
 14. A device according to claim 12, wherein atleast one of the compression pad and deformable element comprises aportion that has a characteristic from the group consisting of opaque,translucent, and tinted.
 15. A device according to claim 12, wherein atleast one of the compression pad and deformable element is of a size inan intended compression stress direction that is substantially equal tothe distance between the assembly surface facing it, prior to thebonding treatment step, said size being equal to the distance in thefinal device.
 16. A device according to claim 12, wherein at least oneof the compression pad and the deformable element and an envelopeelement is substantially in the form of a lamination, in a member of thegroup including a plane, a building, and a complex.
 17. A deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein at least one of the compression pad, anenvelope element, and the device has no discontinuity opening out to thetwo opposite assembly surfaces in the direction of the expectedstresses, including a port, a hole, and an opening.
 18. A deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein at least the compression pad is locatedin a compression zone and defines a pattern, in the assembly plane andin cross-section, the pattern being constituted by a member of the groupconsisting of a polyhedron, lines, and circles.
 19. A device accordingto claim 12, comprising between two elements one fluid and a filmadhesive which is a thermosetting adhesive.
 20. A unit including adevice according to claim 12, and further comprising holding andclamping drive means, which cooperate with the device, and facing atleast one compression pad, said means contributing to securing thedevice to the unit and optionally to drive it between two positions. 21.A unit according to claim 20, including a passage provided with sealingmeans with all of the compression pads of the device extending along oneside of the passage only, regardless of the position of the device, theunit constituting a vehicle door, and the device constituting laminatedgrazing.